Rare Cosmic Show by Super Blue Blood Moon

Skywatchers were delighted with a rare alignment visible from the United States for the first time in 150 years of a super blue blood moon.

Early Wednesday, the blue moon synced up with a supermoon and total lunar eclipse for the first time in 35 years, and many had the chance to catch the wonderful sight.

Hawaii and Alaska had the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia. The western U.S. also had good viewing, along with Russia.

The U.S. East Coast, Europe and most of South America and Africa were out of luck for the eclipse. But at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where a rocket delivered America's first satellite to orbit exactly 60 years ago — Explorer 1 — the blue super moon loomed large in the sky.

The second full moon in a calendar month is a blue moon. This one also happened to be an especially close and bright moon, or supermoon. Add a total eclipse, known as a blood moon for its red tint, and it was a lunar showstopper.

If you miss the Jan. 31 lunar eclipse, you’ll have to wait almost another year for the next opportunity in North America. Johnston said the Jan. 21, 2019 lunar eclipse will be visible throughout all of the U.S. and will be a supermoon, though it won’t be a blue moon.

The next time we get this lunar trifecta will be 19 years from now on Jan. 31, 2037.